Microsofts Internet Explorer Turns 15: A Look Back

by Nicholas Kolakowski

Microsoft's Internet Explorer turned 15 years old this week. Over that time, the browser has evolved from a bare-bones application (its Version 1.0 was only 1MB in size) to a robust product that allows users to leverage the full capabilities of the Web. It also managed to seize commanding market share, trampling early competitors such as Netscape-although it now faces strong competitors such as Mozilla's Firefox browser and Google Chrome. But that history also features its share of controversy. Microsoft Internet Explorer descended from an early Web browser named Mosaic, whose source code Microsoft licensed from a small company named Spyglass-and which later filed a lawsuit over loss of royalties, once Redmond started giving away IE for free. Internet Explorer was also at the center of the landmark United States vs. Microsoft antitrust case. Whether you use it or not, it's hard to argue against Internet Explorer's key role in the Internet's evolution.

Nicholas Kolakowski is a staff editor at eWEEK, covering Microsoft and other companies in the enterprise space, as well as evolving technology such as tablet PCs. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Playboy, WebMD, AARP the Magazine, AutoWeek, Washington City Paper, Trader Monthly, and Private Air. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.